Dawn van Gerven - Broomhill Sculpture Prize

Hall's Fine Art Exhibition and Competition

2011-07-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hall's Auctioneers fine art exhibition and competition at the Granary Gallery, Weston Park, Weston Under Lizard.

Removal of sculpture from Broomhill

2011-07-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

2011-03-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

To view 'Quiddity' at the Tactile Bosch Gallery, click on this link.
http://vimeo.com/21643455

EXHIBITION NEWS

2011-02-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

WUNDERLAND an exhibition highlighting women's day a global celebration of the artistic, economic, political and social achievments of women past, present and future.

The aim of the exhibition is to demonstrate the scope of exciting and innovative artworks currently being made by women.

My work titled 'Quiddity' will be in the tactileBOSCH Gallery Cardiff between 4th and 18th March 2011
http://tactilebosch.co.uk/2011/01/wunderland/

Puppets, Mobiles and Automata. One Church Street Gallery.

2010-12-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

http://www.onechurchstreet.com/index.php?/exhibits/puppets-mobiles-and-automata/

2010-12-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

2010-12-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

'Puppets, Mobiles and Automata', an exhibtion at 'One Church Street Gallery' in Great Missenden which includes some of my interactive sculptures, including 'Quiddity', 'The Insulators' and 'Ousia'.

http://www.facebook.com/onechurchstreet/posts/144510092235049

http://dawnvangerven.co.uk/untitled-text-25441

2010-10-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

2010-08-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

To read my statement and view my competitors sculptures please follow this link.
http://broomhillart.co.uk/national-sculpture-prize/2010-finalists.html

2010-08-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

2010-06-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

2010-06-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

2010-06-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

2010-06-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Deciding on the site was easy I spotted it straight away tucked at the back of the exhibition area but framed by an opening in the trees. This draws the viewer in. The composition of the sculptures however, took more time to work out. I am very particular about composition and placement and spent a few hours the evening we arrived and the following day, repositioning the sculptures and walking around them from all angles until I was as happy as I could get.

2010-06-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

2010-06-10T00:38:00.000-07:00

We arrived at Broomhill at 5.00pm, to a jolly welcome from Rinus the owner. We got settled into our room, then he showed us the site and Broomhill park and then invited us for some tea. He said 'Iam just going to throw some stuff on a barbecue'........ I have never tasted a barbecue like it, the food was absolutely fantastic! I wanted to start work straight away so during the evening we had stroll down again to the site and started preparing so we could make an early start the following morning.

2010-06-10T00:31:00.000-07:00

Preparing to install

2010-06-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

2010-06-09T14:32:00.000-07:00

Loading sculptures onto trailer ready for transportation.

2010-06-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

The process of galvanising is the mild steel is emmersed in molton zinc at 450 degrees C which alloys itself to the steel, therefore can not be scratched off like paint and in a nonaggressive environment the sculpture will have a lifetime protection of 30 years plus.

2010-06-09T03:42:00.000-07:00

The following photos show the dipping of the sculptures at Edward Howell galvanisers in Wolverhampton.

2010-06-09T03:39:00.000-07:00

2010-06-09T03:35:00.000-07:00

2010-05-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Sculptures waiting in line at the galvanisers

2010-05-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

2010-05-20T01:29:00.000-07:00

Organising and boxing up all the hand made brick clay discs (there must be thousands, 50 boxes in total and only just under the weight limit) ready for despatch to Broomhill. I contacted the same courier as another finalist after noticing on his blog who he was using and managed to jump on his journey,...seeing as he is going to the same place anyway but...just a few days earlier so I have arranged for the boxes to be stored undercover at Broomhill untill I get there next week....we will take the rest of the sculpture down with us on our journey........ I am also glad to get our living room back and so is the family.

2010-05-20T01:24:00.000-07:00

2010-05-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

2010-05-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

2010-05-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

2010-05-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

Drilling two steel plates at a time each 1cm thick to be used as supports for the bases.

2010-05-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

2010-05-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

2010-05-01T01:02:00.000-07:00

2010-04-25T02:59:00.000-07:00

2010-04-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

2010-04-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

Rolling the mesh using the University of Wolverhampton's Sculpture facilites.

2010-04-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

2010-04-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

These pictures show the black clay discs that have been transported in boxes from home to be fired in the factory and then ready to go into the kiln. This way I don't need unnecessary firings for the pieces for my sculpture they fit nicely on the top stack of bricks.

2010-04-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

More pieces drying at the factory.

2010-04-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

The pieces of shaped brick need to dry on these racks so that the air can circulate above and below.

2010-04-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Working at home in the shed, with the dog and woodburner for company.

Fire requires oxygen to burn.

2010-04-04T13:16:00.001-07:00

The clay I am using is Ibstock's blue. The blue/black colour is created by adding manganese to the clay which after forming is then dried and fired in a 'reduction firing' which means that the amount of oxygen in the kilns atmosphere is reduced. As a result the fuel does not burn completely and the kilns atmosphere becomes filled with carbon. The carbon atoms aggressively grab up any oxygen atoms they can find,.... they are so oxygen hungry that they are able to break molecular bonds. When the carbon robs the clay of its oxygen, the colour and textures of the clay and glaze materials change, resulting in the manganese turning the clay blue/black,....... the results are an intense, natural beautiful colour.

Just a bit of technical info there for you...better go now before I get carried away.....

2010-04-04T13:05:00.001-07:00

The raw clay before the many processes that turn it to brick.

(I checked with the factory first before I went round taking pics)

2010-04-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

My working area in the brick factory.

2010-04-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

My proposed sculpture was initially a brick carving but because of the timescale I have had to rethink it. It is still made from brick clay and built up from sections. This is me in my workspace in the brick factory (I am the one in the High V vest!!!!).

The guys at Ibstock have been absolutely fantastic, really supportive and accommodating. I work there when I get the chance, otherwise I take the clay home with me to work on it there too. Doing the sculpture in sections makes it easier to work on wherever I am.

2010-04-01T15:22:00.001-07:00

Just finished working again (11.23pm),..so completely exhausted, I will put the pictures on that I took in the brick factory today,... over the weekend, and fill you in then too. Happy Easter everyone, enjoy your weekends!

2010-03-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

I have been in the Ibstock brick factory in Aldridge for most of the day, this has been one of my many visits and visits to come. I Work on the sculpture wherever I am and can, I have place at home to work and also at the University when I get time there, aswell as making trips to the factory. I am using this Easter break to get as much done as possible before I have to go back to work again at the University of Wolverhampton where I support disabled students aswell as studying myself for a Masters degree in Fine Art. After Easter I will be juggling work, study, home and kids and the Sculpture,.... busy month ahead for me! I will try and get some photos done tomorrow to show some of the stages I am at and some pictures of the brick factory...........

2010-03-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

It's 11.39pm,.....hi......just checking if anyone else has posted yet,.....looks like I am the first one?